FAQ


Frequently Asked Questions

 

You've got questions? We've got answers.

We've compiled a number of Frequently Asked Question arranging them into categories—from the Basics, Meet Entry How-to's, commonly asked practice questions and resources to help you find your way through the sport.  We hope you'll find our answers useful. 



  • What is the difference between Short Course Season & Long Course Season?

    Short Course Season

    This season typically runs from the months of September through March. All meets during this period are hosted in a type of competitive pool which measures 25 yards (or 25 meters). In Wisconsin, championship meets are conducted in Short Course yards pools—the majority of pools in Wisconsin measure 25-yards. 

     


    Long Course Season​

    This season generally runs from March through early August. The season is named because the championship meets are conducted in Long Course, 50-meter pools. 

  • What are Time Standards and where can I find them?

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  • When signing up for a meet, what does it mean if my swimmer's time is black, red or a NT (No Time)?

    If your swimmer's time shows up as black, he/she is eligible to swim that event at this meet. If your swimmer's time shows up as red, he/she's current time is either too fast or too slow to be eligible to swim that event. If the time shows up as a NT, that means he/she does not have a time in that event or a recorded time in our system.

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  • What is a disqualification (DQ) and what are some examples of how it could happen?

    The technical rules of swimming are designed to provide fair and equitable conditions of competition and to promote uniformity in the sport. Each swimming stroke has specific rules designed to ensure that no swimmer gets an unfair competitive advantage over another swimmer.


    Trained officials observe the swimmers during each event to ensure compliance with these technical rules. If a swimmer commits an infraction of the rules that is observed by an official, a disqualification (DQ) will result. This means that the swimmer will not receive an official time and will not be eligible for an award in that event. A disqualification may result from actions such as not getting to the starting blocks on time, false starting, performing strokes in an illegal manner, or unsportsmanlike conduct. 

     

    DQs are also a result of technical rules violations. There are far too many to include here, but below are a few common infractions:

    • Freestyle:  Walking on the bottom, pulling on the lane rope, not touching the wall on a turn, or not completing the distance.
    • Backstroke:  Pulling or kicking into the wall once a swimmer has turned passed the vertical onto the breast. Turning onto the breast before touching the wall with the hand at the finish of the race.
    •  Breaststroke:  An illegal kick such as flutter (freestyle), dolphin (butterfly), or scissors (side stroke); not on the breast; alternating movements of the arms; taking two arm strokes or two leg kicks while the head is under water; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.  
    • Butterfly:  Alternating movements of the arms or legs; pushing the arms forward under instead of over the water surface (underwater recovery); a breaststroke style of kick; touching with only one hand at the turns or finish.
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Mini Calendar

Minimum requirements to join a team level are listed below. If your swimmer isn't quite at the level listed below, we have a technique based swim lesson program which will help them make an easy transition on to the team.

  • 8 & Younger - the ability to swim 25 yards freestyle and 25 yards backstroke
  • 9-10 - the ability to swim 25 yards freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly
  • 11 & older - the ability to swim 50 yards freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, 200 yards of continuous freestyle, flip turn and dive.  

Team Registration

Registration for the 2024-25 Fall/Winter Season will open on Monday, August 26th at 2:00pm CDT. Until it opens, you can follow the link below to view our registration groups & fees. Thank you for your patience. 


Swim Team Registration

FALL SESSION: Labor Day - late November 

WINTER SESSION: late November - February

SPRING SESSION:  March - May

SUMMER SESSION: June - July


HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMERS:

Registration prior to the start of the start of the season is highly encouraged.  Registration gets you on the current email list, enables you to sign up for meets, early season events such as personalized cap orders, parent meeting, and reserves your spot on the team.

HIGH SCHOOL SEASONS:

High school boys end their club season with the start of their high school season and return at the conclusion of their WIAA season to participate in the remainder of the season.

High school girls return at the conclusion of their WIAA season or after Thanksgiving weekend at the latest.

FEES:  Regardless of registration, high school swimmers will be responsible for the total swim fees for their assigned group.

Swim Evaluation

Evaluations are helpful in order to enable the coaches to accurately assess every swimmer who has the intention of registering with the Madison Aquatic Club. This is done in both the best interest of the athlete and the coaching staff so that the placement of each athlete, in his/her level, is done with purpose, intention and with respect given to their individual success. From September through May, we set aside one day per month for new swimmer evaluations.  We welcome new swimmers throughout the season as space permits. Fees will be prorated.

Evaluation Sign Up Link

USA Swimming Registration

Each of our swimmers will be registered with USA Swimming, an organization of over 300,000 beginner, competitive and Olympic members all sharing a passion for swimming. USA Swimming registration provides swimmers and their families with valuable swimming information, recognition, and opportunities, as well as insurance coverage for our swimmers and coaches. Registration is annual. MAC renews the annual USA Memberships for its existing swimmers and new transfers in to MAC and will invoice your team account accordingly. If you are new to USA Swimming, further details on how to register with a MAC specific link will be sent to you after your account has been approved.  Outreach memberships are available.

Team Training Fees

All accounts must have a credit, debit or ACH on file. Monthly swim fees, meet fees and incidentals will be processed through the payment method on file. Personal checks will only be accepted for the season paid in full. If a check arrives after the monthly auto-invoicing, no refunds will be issued, instead it will be applied to future meet fees and incidental charges.  There is a registration fee for each session. Returning swimmers who register late will not have training fees prorated. 


Select Groups: Have an option to join by single session (Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer) or by the season (Short Course Fall/Winter or Long Course Spring/Summer). A registration fee discount will be given if committing to the entire season.


Performance Groups:  Have an annual commitment (except White Performance) and fees are divided equally Sept-August.


Training fees for all groups and group specific details are viewable by entering the "Swim Team Registration" link above.

Meet Fees

Families are also required to pay for meet entries over the course of the season. Once the meet deadline passes, no changes will be made to our team entry and families are responsible for any meet fees for entries submitted, even if the swimmer does not attend the meet. Individual swimmer meet entry fees will be billed as they occur. All families must have a form of payment on file for swim fees and other team incidentals.

MAC Membership

Performance Group swimmers will maintain an individual youth membership. Select Group swimmers are welcome to join as members. Family, adult and senior memberships will be available. Membership benefits can include discounts on team, lessons, camps, clinics, gear, wellness & personal training, use of the entire facility including dryland, and more. More details on membership will be available.

Swimmers with a disability

We are an inclusive team. If you have a child with a disability that needs assistance to successfully participate, if possible please let us know at registration or at least 2 weeks prior to the start date of swimming to allow for coordination of support.

Scholarship Information

Our mission, at the Madison Aquatic Club, is to provide swimmers of all ages and abilities the opportunity to participate in the sport of swimming regardless of their income or ability to pay. We accept financial assistance requests throughout the year for assistance with swim fees or travel costs associated with meets. Consideration is given on an individual basis, case by case basis.

No Refund Policy

Swim fees are non-refundable. The only exception to this policy is for extended injury or illness (three weeks or more), in which a doctor's note is required. The doctor's note must be submitted in a timely manner for a credit to be issued towards future swim fees. If the team is not notified within two weeks of the injury or illness, the credit may not be approved.

Volunteer Requirements

Hosting meets are in important source of revenue for our program and running a running a quality meet properly requires many volunteers. Each family has the same requirement regardless of both the number of children on the team and whether their child is participating in the meet or not since the revenue generated from hosting a home meet benefits the entire team. The number of meet sessions needed to be fulfilled by each family will be determined at the beginning of the season depending on the number of meets we are hosting and the number of registered families. For those families not able to volunteer, there will be a buyout option. There are a variety of jobs available at a team hosted meet to fit everyone’s interest. It is not only rewarding to participate in your child’s sport but it is also a great way to meet other team parents.